S'side Fire Department responds to two afternoon blazes

Daily Sun News

Thursday, March 4, 2004

The Sunnyside Fire Department responded to two fires Wednesday afternoon, one leaving a motor home burnt down to the frame and another that displaced a family.

Just before 2 p.m. the Sunnyside Fire Department responded to a report of a motor home fire in the 1000 block of Midvale Road. According to Battalion Chief Aaron Markham, when members of the fire department arrived on scene, they found the motor home was completely engulfed in flames.

"Basically it was on fire from the front to the back," Markham said.

Markham said a small International semi-truck parked next to the motor home and a power pole adjacent to the vehicle were beginning to catch fire when the firefighters arrived on scene. Markham said it took the fire department about 10 to 15 minutes to knock down the blaze. Markham said the cause of the motor home fire is undetermined.

However, the cause of another afternoon fire is believed to be a hair crimper left on in a single-wide mobile home in the 100 block of Parkland Homes, according to Markham.

The mobile home fire was reported just after 2 p.m. Markham said when firefighters arrived at the second afternoon blaze they found thick black smoke coming from the windows of the mobile home.

Markham said the department was able to confine the fire to the front bedroom and bathroom area of the home, although the rest of the structure sustained heavy smoke damage.

According to Markham, nine people lived in the mobile home. The Red Cross was called in to assist the family.

Markham said at this point the fire is believed to have started near a hair crimper that was left on in the home. He explained that it was the only source of heat found in the area of the fire, and noted that it was found among a pile of bedding and clothes. Markham said the clothing was burned through to the floor when firefighters went into the building.

"That's a good indicator of what was the cause of it," Markham said.

According to Markham, the occupants of the mobile home did have renters insurance. He also noted that no one was home at the time of the fire.